Bypassing Malanjum another slap for Sabah, Sarawak – Baru

KUCHING: State PKR chairman Baru Bian said he fully endorsed the statements by Pakatan Harapan leaders in Sabah and Sarawak about the extension of the Chief Justice's current term depriving Tan Sri Panglima Richard Malanjum of the top position in the judiciary.

Baru, who is Ba Kelalan assemblyman, recalled that he made a statement supporting the recommendation by retired judge Datuk Seri Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus that Malanjum be appointed the next Chief Justice.

"Richard Malanjum should rightly be appointed, by virtue of his seniority and his unquestionable qualification and calibre. This is what I said then: ‘If for any reason Richard Malanjum is sidelined, the people of Sabah and Sarawak will understandably feel slighted. It will be another indication that we are the second cousins, and not equal partners in the Federation of Malaysia as was envisioned by our forefathers. For too long, we have been neglected and for too long, we have accepted this shameful treatment without protest," he said in a press statement yesterday.

According to Baru, it has now come to pass – the most suitable candidate is sidelined as a result of the unconstitutional extension of the current Chief Justice's term.

"We must question why Sabah and Sarawak are treated with such disrespect. We have yet to hear from the Chief Ministers of Sabah and Sarawak, and the BN leaders their views on this grossly unfair sidelining of Tan Sri Richard Malanjum.

"We have yet to learn the rationale of the Prime Minister and the Conference of Rulers for the extension of the Chief Justice when expert opinions had been given on the undesirability and the unconstitutionality of an extension for the current Chief Justice.”